The disgusted daughter-in-law of Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff is trying to rid herself and her two small kids of their notorious last name.


Stephanie Madoff, who is married to the imprisoned moneyman's son Mark, asked a court last night to let her and the children take the last name Morgan.

"Petitioner wishes to avoid additional embarrassment, harassment and endangerment associated with the name 'Madoff' by changing my last name to 'Morgan,'" said the papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Papers filed on behalf of 3-year-old Audrey and 1-year-old Nicholas point out that the tykes have "never been convicted of a crime."


Grandpa Bernie, on the other hand, was sentenced to 150 years in prison for masterminding a $65 billion scheme that cleaned out investors and besmirched a once-legendary Wall Street name.

That name sparked death threats against Stephanie Madoff, 35, in December 2008, shortly after her father-in-law came clean to his sons about the Ponzi scheme.

"Though the threats were deemed unfounded, your petitioner fears for her safety and the safety of her children," she said in court papers that she had wanted sealed.

Mark Madoff said in court papers he does not object to the change for his wife and kids, but is apparently keeping his last name.

Victims of the royal ripoff said Stephanie Madoff might change her name, but she can never hide.

"I don't blame [her]," said Herb Silvera of Jupiter, Fla., who lost his life savings in the scam. "I think she's doing the right thing. I wouldn't want to be stuck with that name, would you?"